Passion For Puzzles

Magnetic Match Rings is a matching challenge puzzle game with forty pattern cards for individuals to mimic by stacking magnetic rings and the latest addition to my puzzle collection.

If the card's illustration shows a ring floating, like and opposite poles of the magnets must be used to copy the design correctly. This introduction to magnets helps develop visual skills, eye-hand coordination and problem solving skills.

Tags: Magnetic Match Rings | Puzzle

Filament is an online Flash puzzle game with lasers and mirrors from Cathelius.

Object of Filament is to deduce the layout of mirrors inside that box by firing lasers into the box and observing where they exit (in each column and row). Click on a side cell to fire a laser, and after selecting a mirror on the right hand side, clicking in the grid will place a mirror. Detailed instructions are provided in the game. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Filament | Puzzle Game

Cubicute is a simple but original 3D online puzzle game by Christian Zienert.

The object of the CubiCute is to bring all nine squares "upstairs," or to their largest size. You do this by clicking on the squares. When you click on a square, it changes not only itself, but also any horizontally or vertically adjacent squares. The graphics are in 3-D anaglyph, and 3-D glasses do enhance the game, but are in no way necessary. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Cubicute | Puzzle Game

Spin-In 1 and Spin-In 2 are just two another addicting and funny Flash puzzle games from Puzzle4u and looks a bit like puzzle game Rush Hour.

Object of Spin-In 1 puzzle game is to get Smiley-tile out of the game board on the right side. This by pressing the arrow keys to tilt the board. In addition you can use the "R" key to reset the board and the "U" key to revisit your previous moves. It's also possible to remove unwanted tiles via the exit. There are in total twenty levels to solve. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Spin-In 1 | Puzzle Game

Mark your calendars for the largest puzzle championship in the United States! The Philadelphia Inquirer Sudoku National Championship is in Philly on October 25, 2008 and there are over US$20,000 in cash prizes for different skill levels as well as other different groupings.

The special host is none other than world-renowned puzzle master Will Shortz, and the special guest is Maki Kaji, "the man who gave Sudoku its name." Visit the Sudoku webpage at the The Philadelphia Inquire website for more information and to register. Here you can also find some Sudoku samples. Also check out the CEO of The Philadelphia Inquire Brian Tierney describe the Sudoku event in a youtube video.

Tags: Sudoku | Will Shortz

BigFlyGames has published their first puzzle book called 'PrismaPixels; Colored Pixel Puzzles'.

This picture logic puzzle book is the first of its kind, a pixel puzzle book in full color. There are many black and white pixel puzzle books out that have been gaining in popularity over the past ten years. They appear under such names as Picture Logic Puzzles, O'ekaki, Paint By Numbers, and simply Pixel Puzzles.

You can also find colored pixel puzzles online, but up until now, not in book form. 'PrismaPixels; Colored Pixel Puzzles' contains eighty pages with over fifty logic puzzles ranging from two colors to ten colors and costs $14.00.

Tags: Pixel Puzzle | Puzzle Book

Last week I found several advertisements on the internet all using puzzles to attract the attention of their potential customers.

Honda Problem Playground Website and a video of The Making of Honda Problem Playground at youtube. From the zero emission FCX Clarity car to the Civic Hybrid and Clean Diesel i-DTEC engine – learn how Honda is creating products with less impact on the environment.

Rubik’s Cube: 25th Anniversary and still going [by DDB in New Zealand].

Red Bull Jigsaw Puzzle : A jigsaw puzzle containing a thousand white pieces was presented together with a can of Red Bull [by 10AM Communications, Singapore].

Tags: Puzzle | Rubik's Cube | Jigsaw | Red Bull

The Pentago Online website has been updated and has now more possibilities to play the world famous Pentago board game online and for free.

The new online version of Pentago offers you several game modes, you against the computer, just with to players or you can Email Challenge (here you have to opportunity to challenge friend on a game of Pentage. Each player will receive an email when its his/her turn to move). At this point of time it's not possible to play real-time with another online puzzle player, and that's really a shame as this would really add a lot of puzzle pleasure.

Game play is easy as the rules can be explained in a few words. Place a ball - flip a square - get five in a row.

The Pentago board game is also available via Amazon.com. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Pentago | Puzzle Game

Slide Roadway is a combination between a sliding puzzle game and a maze created by MePixa!

In Slide Roadway Ink is driving in a red car and the object is to the finish. You need to slide the puzzle pieces to make the car find the goal! The game contains more than 41 levels and extra ending points! You can select English or Portuguese as standard language. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Slide Roadway | Puzzle Game

Avalanche is a small and simple online Flash puzzle game which will be fun for a while.

You are a little white block which you can control using the arrow keys (left, right, up, down). Object is to climb the falling blocks and avoid to get drowned in the rising water level. Two hazards which make the game hard, one is the rising water which you will drown in and the second is the falling blocks which could crush you. Happy Puzzling !!

Tags: Avalanche | Puzzle Game

Magic Pen is a very original puzzle game but it looks a bit like it's for children but after a few levels you will find out it's very hard to solve each level. The first thought I had when I played this game is that it was based on a video I saw on Youtube a few years ago called MIT Sketching (4m43 sec).

Object is to get the the red ball (or red square in some levels) reaching the flag. This by drawing several shapes, the shapes that you draw are affected by gravity, friction and inertia. You need to use these properties in your advantage. Draw objects in such a way that they push the ball towards the flag. This can include using pins and hinges to link two objects together.

Video walkthroughs for Magic Pen levels are available via FreeGameNews.com:
- Levels 1-11
- Levels 12-26

Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Magic Pen | Puzzle Game

Mouse Maze is an original and challenging online Flash puzzle game by OnlineRealGames.com.

Object is to move the Spark with your mouse (this is why it's called Mouse Maze) from start to finish. This puzzle game starts very easy, but after a few levels it becomes more difficult as different kind of objects like moving pistons and spinning wheels are added to the maze. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Mouse Maze | Puzzle Game

Chronotron is a nice platform puzzle game in which you have to interact with past versions of yourself.

Chronotron is about a robot that goes back in time for some reason. Use your time machine to interact with past versions of yourself. The game records your movements. When you use the Time Pod to travel back to the beginning of the level, you see a past version of yourself doing exactly what you did before entering the pod. You can create as many copies of yourself as you need to solve the puzzle, but be careful not to change the past too much. If you interfere with a past self's ability to return to the Time Pod, you cause a paradox.

Use the arrow keys or WASD to move, space bar to lift crates and use your time pod. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Chronotron | Puzzle Game

This year Maze in Maize theme is Ancient Egypt and the Maze for 2008 in the shape of a Egyptian Pharaoh and opens this year at the 19th of July. Maze in Maize can be found in Sound Lincolnshire in the United Kingdom.

Why not lose yourself (or your children!) in a living puzzle cut into a field of maize? Venture into Ancient Egypt, solve the mysteries of the Pharaohs to find your way through the maze. After navigating your way through the maze, you can relax in a picnic area where fresh ground coffee, tea, cold drinks, snacks and ice creams are available. Play the giant games and puzzles, and then let the children try their own 'Mini Mazes'. Hours of fun for the whole family. A new additions for 2008 is Go-Karts. You can find Maze in Maize in

Tags: Maze | Pharaoh

Hitori is a nice number puzzle game and looks a bit like Sudoku.

The Hitori puzzle is solved when these three rules are met.
1. White squares with the same number only appear once in any row or column.
2. Black squares may not be next to one another.
3. All white squares must connect in a single continuous path.

The game grid shows duplicate numbers in a row or column in red. Eliminate duplicate numbers by clicking on them. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Hitori | Puzzle Game

10 Gnomes is an online flash puzzle game series created by Mateusz Skutnik (also known for as the creator of Submachine series).

10 Gnomes is a point and click hidden object type of puzzle game. In this game, you have to find 10 gnomes hidden in the pictures and you have got only ten minutes to do that. Every month in 2008 there is a new episode. Until now there are:
- The Rooftops
- Walk In The Park
- Early Spring Garden
- Foggy Flat
- The Shipyard
- The Hall
- The Solitude

Happy Gnome hunting!

Tags: 10 Gnomes | Puzzle Game

Candy Shot is yet another bubble puzzle game at YoudaGames.

In this bubble puzzle game you are a white 'angel' and you must kill the black 'devil' with love. All you have to do is to score points by hitting three or more of the same type and color of candy. Use the mouse to move the candy around the edge of the game board. Click the mouse button to the candy. The candy will drop automatically if your time runs out. Connect three similar candies to clear them. The more you connect, the more points you get. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Candy Shot | Puzzle Game

Totem Destroyer is an original Flash Puzzle Game.

Your mission is to destroy the totems with a bomb without letting the Golden Idol (a.k.a. Tot) fall into the ground. Use balance to keep Tot up. Totem Destroyer is a cool physics based puzzle game. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Totem Destroyer | Puzzle Game

Puzzle Calendar is a colorful and whimsical way to track time.

Your desktop calendar. Look at it. All plain and vanilla-boring. Blue squares on white paper, perhaps scribbled with dentist appointments or Mom's birthday. Maybe there's a cute calico-kitten-photo above that says "Hang in there!" It's enough to make you want to rethink your very existence.

Lucky for you, the calendar you use to keep track of days of the week and major events is made from puzzle tiles. Not only does the Puzzle Calendar kjavascript:void(0)eep your brain wrapped around your busy schedule, but it keeps your fidgety fingers occupied - it's got the added bonus of letting you play with puzzle tiles while on the job.

Features:
- Re-arrange the blocks to change the look of your calendar each month
- Use the icon blocks to flag special events
- 77 tiles with dates, days, blanks and icons to describe your month
- Not Lego compatible

Available for US$ 9.99 [via ThinkGeek]

Tags: Puzzle | Calendar

Bridge Basher is a one level puzzle game designed with Silverlight (Microsoft variant of Flash and you need to download and install silverlight before you are able to play Bridge Basher).

Object of Bridge Basher is to design and build a bridge and then destroy it! Bridge Basher is powered by a realistic physics engine to provide an unparalleled level of ultra-super realistic bridge destruction.

Left click the white dots with the mouse to create trusses. To delete a truss, hover the mouse over it and press the delete key. When you're ready to test the bridge you've build, click the hammer icon in the top right. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Bridge Basher | Puzzle Game

Pairix Puzzle is simple Flash puzzle game and a Bejeweled look-a-like.

Click and drag the different and colored puzzle pieces to make a swap and match two or more puzzle pieces with just one single move. Match two pairs of pieces at once to make a Combo. You drag your piece in all directions. Get the designated number of Combos to win this puzzle game. Happy Puzzling

Tags: Pairix | Puzzle Game

This multi-faceted piece turns the concept of traditional alphabet blocks on its head, by featuring an array of multi-functional patterns and colors. Not just a set of wood blocks but two puzzles, numbers and letters too.

The Letters combine our favorite vintage and contemporary fonts. They picked the most distinct letter forms for each letter on two of the block sides. Basic equations can be solved using the two tone graphic numbers. The Apples are a signature notNeutral pattern that create a fun puzzle. The last two sides are a combination of two Season pattern elements, the flora and fauna elements with the tree structure.

Combine the sides to create your own interactions, an ant eating the apples or leaves on the trees. Don't forget to rake up when your done. Twelve blocks on a wooden tray. [Via RareDevice]

Tags: Wooden Puzzle

Two Piece Jigsaw Necklace by Plastic Bat is an adorable set of two necklaces that fit together, well, like a jigsaw! Keep one for yourself and give the other to your best friend or significant other person. Each necklace comes on a 46 cm (18 inch) silver plated chain, and the plastic jigsaw pieces are approximately 4 cm wide. Price: £14.00 (US$ 28) and available via Hannah Zakari.

Tags: Jigsaw Puzzle | Necklace | Hannah Zakari

Deflection is a fast-paced Flash puzzle game by AverageGames.

Object is to deflect the ball into the goal to win, this by clicking and draging with the mouse to create deflection walls.

Deflection demands skill and patience as you have to redirect / deflect the ball and get it to the exits within mean time limits. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Deflection | Puzzle Game

ParkingLot is a small puzzle game for the iPhone and is a Rush-Hour look a like.

Object is to guide a yellow VW Beetle out of jammed parking lots. With 40 puzzles it should keep you busy for a while. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: ParkingLot | iPhone

It may be an infuriating puzzle which has baffled and defeated countless children and their parents over more than two decades, but this octopus appears determined to solve the Rubik's Cube.

The three-dimensional puzzle, which became a huge success in the early 1980s, is among toys being given to the intelligent sea creatures to determine whether they favour a particular tentacle, or if they are octidextrous.

Experts believe octopuses use a preferred arm for feeding and touching objects and will test the theory with a month-long observation project in Sea Life Centre attractions across Europe.

More than 25 octopuses will be given food and toys to play with and visitors to the marine life centres will be enlisted to help record results.

A diagram of an octopus will be placed next to tanks, with arms on the right labelled R1, R2, R3 and R4. The left arms will be numbered in the same way but with an L instead of an R.

Visitors will be asked to note down which tentacle was closest to the object and which was used to pick it up. Staff will do the same during feeding time.

Claire Little, marine expert at the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth, Dorset, said the study could help to relieve stress among anxious octopuses. She said: "We hope [the study] will help the overall well being of octopuses.

"They are very susceptible to stress, so if they do have a favourite side to be fed on, it could reduce risk to them."

The study begins today in all 23 branches of the Sea Life Centre attractions in Britain and Europe.

The results will be analysed by Sea Life Centre biologists and the results will be announced in the autumn. [via Telegraph.co.uk]

Tags: Octopus | Rubik's Cube

Fantastic Contraption is a brilliant flash-based physics-puzzle game similar to Armadillo Run or The Incredible Machine. You are given a selection of simple tools (wheels and sticks) and have to build a contraption that can overcome an obstacle.

Fantastic Contraption looks a lot like Tinker Toys; it isn't one of those physics games where you get a million tools but the beauty of Fantastic Contraption comes with its simplicity and it's easy to imagine a variety of solutions for each puzzle. Object is to get the pink ball to reach the pink goal. Just drag and drop the tools you need to solve each level to the game grid and press the start button on the left top.

You can save your solutions and design your own levels. It offers a handy way to link to them so you can share you designs directly with other puzzle lovers. Happy Puzzling !

Tags: Fantastic Contraption | Puzzle Game

Save The Apple is a nice but simple Flash puzzle game by MakeOverFun.net

Save the apple from worms spin the arrow keys drop the worms and virus in the hole. Use the left and right arrow keys to spin the wheel. Drop the worms and the virus down the holes before they can get to the apple. Happy Puzzling !

Tags: Save The Apple | Puzzle Game

Bandai Aqua Drop is an original twist of the original mazes in which you had to move a steel ball from A to B avoiding holes and all kind of other obstacles

Bandai has now given a futuristic touch to this old game and replaced the steel ball by drops of water. There are four types of labyrinths to choose, and will be sent at the end of the month of June in Japan only for about US$ 15. [via NewsLaunches]

Tags: Aqua Drop | Maze | Bandai

Chain3 is an upcoming puzzle game for the iPhone from indie developer Shawn McGrath. It functions in the common match-3 framework, but it allows for any piece to be dragged anywhere with no restrictions. This means making a match is trivial, so the game is based on the idea of chaining matches so that one match causes another, and that causes another, etc.

After you make a match, the tiles will flash for a short time, giving you a chance to setup the pieces for the next match in the chain. Also, just before the tiles drop, there's a brief pause, allowing you to slip pieces under falling pieces to cause chains, à la Tetris Attack.

There's a YouTube video about Chain3, game information, and a detailed description of the game system.

Chain3 will be available from the iTunes App Store the first day it opens [via IndieGames.

Tags: |

Rubik's Ice Cube is the latest addition to my puzzle collection. This one I found in a little toy shop in Rapla (Estonia). I saw some more puzzles but as I was on a cycling tour from Riga to Tallinn I thought it was not a good idea to carry more stuff with me (more about this trip will follow soon somewhere on this website).

Rubik's Ice cube is a 2x2 version of the original Rubik's cube puzzle (3x3). The objective is the same as its bigger brother, turn each side in a combination of moves returning it to six solid colored sides. Rubik's Ice Cube offers the same geometric and logical skills building as its larger sibling. If you've already mastered Rubik's Cube, the Ice Cube uses the same principles. If you haven't mastered its big brother, Rubik's Ice Cube is a great place to start learning the logical approach to its solution.

The Rubik's Ice Cube includes an iceberg stand to display your magnificent achievement. Rubik’s Ice Cube is available via Amazon.

Tags: Rubik's | Ice Cube

The World Hardest Game is a very difficult puzzle game by SnubbyLand.

Object is to reach with the red square the green beacon. You are the red square. Avoid the blue circles and collect the yellow circles. Once you have collected all of the yellow circles, move to the green beacon to complete the level. Some levels consist of more than one beacon; the intermediary beacons act as check points. You must complete all 30 levels in order to submit your score. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: The World Hardest Game | Puzzle Game

Trappit is a Flash puzzle game by YoudaGames and positioned as a tribute to the classic game JezzBall.

Your goal is to enclose the bouncing balls by building walls. But do not let the balls hit the walls! Enclosed empty areas are reclaimed. Reclaim as much area as possible!
Click to build wall. Make use of your space bar to switch for horizontal or vertical Walls. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Trappit | Puzzle Game

Automaton 2 is the sequel to Automaton, a steampunk style point and click puzzle game by Arcade Cabin.

Just click on items to use them and to get your quest on. Happy Puzzling!

Tags: Automaton | Puzzle Game